How many maps is a good number to have shipped with the game On-Disk? What is a reasonable number? 8, 10, 12, 20? Halo 4 showed the nessecesity to ship a game with more than just a couple decent quality maps.
Especially considering the fact that Halo 4 shipped with a measly 10 maps…WHOA. Not to mention the size and overall quality of the maps greatly differed that of Halo 1-Halo 3 (Reach had campaign cutouts and Forge World at launch which wasn’t the greatest thing IMO
The On-Disk maps were pretty much centered around BTB, except we didn’t have a really good Big Team Game type at launch. The other half (Smaller maps)
Maps like Solace, Adrift, Haven, Abandon, Complex really weren’t the “play 1000 times and still have fun” type maps that cough cough Bungie supposedly strived for.
Now Halo 3’s DLC brought a lot to the table i.e. Forge maps (Foundry, Sandbox) certainly made most people who were in favor of making their own maps bought the maps because of the new additions, not to mention the quality was on par with the other maps on disk. Same could be said about Halo 2, which on my opinion had the best map line up in a Halo game.
Reach’s brought maps like Tempest and Highlands that seemed to have a lot going for it (Tempest being another Forge canvas and Highlands being a good looking BTB map akin to those of past Halo maps) Condemned and Anchor 9 were also unique for their Zero Gravity areas, but they weren’t exactly the best in comparison to the “fun factor” or “Competitive” but they were unique so they deserve brownie points.
Now onto Halo 5’s DLC and how they should bring in something awe-inspiring and worth while and money. Try adding Remakes of maps from OLDER MAPS. I for one did not ask for a Valhalla or Pit, simply because I can pop in Halo 3 and play them. More so now than ever, since Halo 3 is F-R-E-E.
Try fan favorites like Turf, Relic, Waterworks, Terminal, etc, and so on.
AND or make maps like Last Resort, Terminal -> Waterworks -> (I know listed twice), High Ground, etc that have moving objects that play to the flow of the map i.e. the Wind Wheel, Unlock able barriers, a MURDEROUS-MAN EATING TRAIN, etc. These are all great things that many players took advantage of but were nice additions to the linear-non moving maps.
Make more One Sided maps like High Ground, Last Resort, Relic. Maps that were unique and fun to be on the giving or receiving side of a good asskicking.
(Notice How I said Like Halo 3’s Maps, NOT I WANT 4 HIGH GROUNDZ AND LEAST RESORT MAPZ NOAW!) No, simply put, they were fun but not necessary required, just their ideals, like moving objects, unique Symmetry, size, and quality (no wall glitches or impossible spots in the map that everyone and their grandmothers run to every game)
Furthermore, make them accessible, create semi-permanent playlists that featured the maps solely, create DLC required playlists like in Halo 3 (wanna play the new maps but don’t know anyone who has it, play Enter Team Map pack name here.
Make DLC required versions of Game types like Big Team Battle from Halo 3, gotta buy the maps else you’re SOL buddy.
The point to DLC is to offer new and fun ways to play, don’t give us crap that aren’t fun for the first, hundredth, thousandth time. Offer NEW forge Canvases, or bring in new objects like in Halo 3’s Heroic and Legendary and Mythic DLC (Effects, lights, blocks, golfing, soccer, etc)
Advertise! Bungie did, I must have watched the Bungie Day reveal of Cold Storage a hundred times. I found it comical, and it showcased the new maps, and they anted up the beloved Recon.